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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- An email address listed inside this email has been used in a known fraud before.
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "barrister" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- "chambers" (Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.)
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
- Barristers (lawyers) mentioned in 419 scams are always fake.
- This email lists mobile phone numbers. Use of such numbers is typical for scams because they allow criminals to conceal their true location. They can receive calls in an Internet cafe from where they send you emails, while pretending to be in some office.
- +447024080676 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- +447011174787 (UK, redirects to a mobile phone in another country)
- This email lists free webmail addresses. Use of such addresses is typical for scams. Lotteries, banks and any but the smallest of companies do not normally use such addresses. Criminals use them to anonymously send and receive email at Internet cafes.
- barristerbarrycookefirm41@yahoo.com.hk (email address has been used in a known fraud before)
Fraud email example:
From: (sent from abused email account)
Reply-To: barristerbarrycookefirm41@yahoo.com.hk
Date: Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:07:09 -0500
Subject: MY FOURTH AND FINAL MAIL
Chambers Of Clive Nicholls
Barrister Barry Cooke
3 Raymond Buildings, Gray's Inn
Camden
London WC1R 5BH
Phone:+44702 408 0676
Phone:+44 70111 74787
Email:barristerbarrycookefirm41@yahoo.com.hk
I wish to notify you that late Engr. Jurgen Krugger made you abeneficiary to
his WILL. He left the sum of Thirty Million,One Hundred
Thousand Dollars (USD$30,100.000.00) to you in the Codicil and
lasttestament to
his WILL.This may sound strange and unbelievable to you, butit is real and
true. Being a widely traveled man, he must have been in
contact with you in the past or simply you were nominated to him by one of
his
numerous friends abroad who wished you good.
For more information contact me with my personal email and call the phone
numbers below
address:barristerbarrycookefirm41@yahoo.com.hk
Tel: +44702 408 0676
:+44 70111 74787
Yours in Service,
Chambers Of Clive Nicholls
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Anti-fraud resources:
